American comics: I am full of martial virtues and I love to be kind to others.

"The authorized person is listed as Samantha Diaz, coordinator for the Manhattan branch. But here's the problem: Diaz is currently in Washington for a meeting and it's unlikely she authorized this task yesterday."

“Very suspicious,” Henderson murmured. “What about that special group?”

"There is no official record of such a group, Director. I've checked the list of all active special operations groups, and there isn't one called 'FBI Special Task Force'."

Henderson paused for a moment, pondering the implications of all this information. “Michelle, I need you to do one thing, but it must be kept absolutely confidential. Investigate any recent internal searches or inquiries regarding Black Hawk International, and see if any agents have shown any particular interest in the company.”

"Understood, Chief. Is there anything else you need me to investigate?"

Henderson thought for a moment. "Yes, check for any recent reports or incidents related to the 'Hulk' in the New York area, especially those in the last 48 hours."

Not long after.

His phone rang again.

“Chief, I’ve found some relevant records,” Michelle said urgently. “Several agents have indeed searched Black Hawk International recently, with Lynn Hall being the most active. He’s made multiple inquiries in the past two weeks and accessed some related encrypted files.”

Is he conducting an official investigation?

"It doesn't seem so, Chief. There are no official case numbers or investigative authorizations linked to these searches."

Henderson's intuition told him that Agent Hall was likely the source of the mysterious document, or at least one of its key contributors. The question was, was he acting out of personal motives, or had he genuinely discovered a serious threat that needed to be exposed?

"What about the report on the Hulk?"

"There was a major incident just the day before yesterday. Midtown Manhattan reported a Hulk appearance causing some damage, but no injuries. Strangely, the Hulk suddenly disappeared after the incident, and police searched Central Park without success. Some witnesses reported seeing a man who may have helped the Hulk, who had reverted to human form, escape the scene."

Henderson's eyes widened slightly. "Does that man's description match Agent Holt's?"

"The description is vague, Chief, but the height and build are indeed similar. There's also something odd: a group of police officers involved in the search reported encountering a man claiming to be an FBI agent who said he was escorting a key witness away from the scene."

The puzzle began to fall together. Director Henderson returned to his seat and reviewed the evidence in the documents once more. If Agent Hole had indeed helped Dr. Banner escape and was now assisting him in gathering and releasing evidence about Black Hawk International, then the situation was more complex than he had initially imagined.

He needed to make a decision: should he treat this as an overreach of authority by an agent and deal with it, or should he take the allegations seriously and take action? Given the seriousness and detail of the evidence, he leaned towards the latter.

Chief Henderson picked up the phone again, this time dialing a private number. Although it was late, some things couldn't wait.

“Jim? It’s Robert. Yes, I know it’s late, but it’s important. I need to see you right away. No, we can’t discuss this over the phone. Yes, it’s that serious. Half an hour later at your usual place? Thank you.”

Jim Hartley, a senior member of the Senate Judiciary Committee and a longtime friend and trusted ally of Henderson, is the man who could help assess the situation and take appropriate action without alarming the entire political machine.

Director Henderson closed the file, ensuring it was securely stored on an encrypted drive, and then prepared to leave the office.

Meanwhile, inside the safe house in the Bronx, Lynn, Gwen, Ethan, and Banner nervously await the consequences of their revelations.

"Are you sure the file has been sent safely?" Lynn asked, looking at Gwen's computer screen.

Gwen nodded. “Absolutely. I set up a sophisticated delivery system with multiple layers of encryption and anonymous routing. The file has been delivered to all our chosen recipients, including Director Henderson’s private encrypted mailbox.”

Ethan looked both nervous and excited. "Do you think he'll take action? Chief Henderson is known for his integrity, but such an accusation might be seen as too outlandish or dangerous."

Lynn pondered for a moment. "Henderson is a cautious but courageous man. He will assess the evidence, and if he deems it credible, he will act. The question is, to what extent can he counter Black Hawk's influence?"

Banner, though still weak but in much better condition than before, sat in a corner of the room. "Even if Director Henderson trusts us, Black Hawk's tentacles within the government may be deeper than we imagine. They have resources, influence, and may have already infiltrated many key positions."

Lynn had to admit that Banner's concerns were valid. In his FBI career, he had seen far too many times how power and money could distort systems and render certain individuals and organizations virtually untouchable by the law.

“Regardless,” Gwen said firmly, “we’ve done the right thing. Even if not everyone will act immediately, the truth has emerged, and it will find its way.”

Lynn nodded, but remained worried.

“We need to remain vigilant,” he cautioned. “Although we have sent out messages, we must assume that Black Hawk is still actively searching for us until we see an actual response.”

Banner gave a wry smile. "This is nothing new to me. Constant movement, ever-vigilant—it's become my way of life."

“Now we can only wait,” Ethan said, glancing at his watch. “If Chief Henderson decides to take action, we should get some kind of response within a few hours.”

Gwen continued monitoring the various alarms and information channels she had set up, looking for any reaction to their leaks or any signs of Black Hawk activity. Lynn, meanwhile, rechecked the safe house's defenses and evacuation routes, preparing for any potential emergencies. Banner stood up, walked to the window, and cautiously peered through the curtains at the street outside. Night had fallen, and the streets were almost deserted, broken only by the occasional passing vehicle.

“You know,” Banner said softly, seemingly to himself, “sometimes I almost forget what normal life is like. Not having to worry about the stares of strangers, not being afraid of every sudden noise, not having to control every emotional fluctuation. Living like a normal person.”

Lynn walked over to Banner and looked out the window as well. "I can't imagine what you've been through, Doctor. But if we succeed, maybe you can have a chance at a normal life again."

Banner turned to Lynn, a complex emotion flickering in his eyes. "Do you really believe this is possible? Even if Black Hawk is exposed, even if the 'Emerald Fist' plan is terminated, I will still be me. I can still become that monster at any moment."

“I don’t think he’s a monster,” Lynn said calmly. “Based on the evidence I’ve seen, the Hulk has saved people and protected innocents many times. Yes, he has caused destruction, but he never seems to have intentionally harmed ordinary people. That’s not the behavior of a monster.”

In the back room of a 24-hour restaurant in Washington, D.C., Chief of Staff Robert Henderson and Senator Jim Hartley sat facing each other, with printed documents and photographs scattered on the table between them.

Senator Hartley looked both shocked and skeptical. "Robert, are you sure these materials are authentic? Or not some kind of sophisticated forgery or hoax?"

Chief Henderson nodded seriously. "My team has preliminarily verified some of the evidence. The photos show no signs of tampering, the recordings appear authentic, and the file metadata matches their claimed source. Of course, more thorough analysis is needed, but based on my experience and intuition, I believe the core of these allegations is true."

Hartley frowned, flipping through a document about Project Emerald Fist. "If this is true, it's a major national security issue. A private military contractor conducting unauthorized human experiments in an attempt to create... super soldiers? Sounds like science fiction."

“A few years ago, we all thought beings like Iron Man and Thor were science fiction,” Henderson noted. “Now they’re reality. The world is changing, Jim, and some people are clearly determined to control that change, no matter the cost.”

Hartley paused for a moment, seemingly weighing all the information, then asked, "What do you want me to do, Robert?"

“I need the support of the Judiciary Committee to launch a formal federal investigation. This is beyond the capabilities of the FBI alone, especially if Black Hawk has supporters within the government. We need an interagency task force with sufficient authority and independence to thoroughly investigate these allegations.”

Hartley shook his head, his expression complex. “It won’t be that simple, Robert. First, I need to raise this issue with the other members of the committee, not everyone will take these allegations as seriously as I do. Second, if Black Hawk really does have political influence as the documents suggest, there could be strong resistance.”

Henderson leaned forward, his voice low and firm. "Jim, this isn't just about a potential criminal organization. If Black Hawk successfully replicates the Hulk's abilities, we could face a private army of superpowered individuals operating outside of government control. Imagine the consequences."

Hartley took a deep breath. “I understand the seriousness of the situation, Robert. I will do my best, but I cannot promise any results. Let me speak privately with a few trustworthy committee members first to see what kind of support we can get.”

Henderson nodded, though a hint of disappointment lingered in his heart. He had hoped for a more steadfast commitment, but he understood the complexities of political reality.

“There’s one more thing,” Henderson said. “I believe the source of this material is likely one of my agents, Lynn Hall, and a small group working with him. Based on circumstantial evidence, they may be protecting Dr. Bruce Banner—the Hulk himself. I fear they are all in danger.”

Hartley raised an eyebrow. "Your agents conducted this investigation without authorization?"

"That seems to be the case. But given the seriousness of the evidence and the apparent involvement of government infiltration, I believe his actions, while irregular, may have been necessary."

Hartley thought for a moment. “I see. You want to protect your people, but you also want to move the investigation forward. It’s a tricky balance.”

“Yes,” Henderson admitted, “if I publicly support Hall, it might alert Black Hawk supporters and provoke a backlash. But if I don’t act, Hall and Dr. Banner could be in mortal danger.”

Hartley closed the folder in front of him. "Let me speak with a few key figures first to see what kind of support we can get. Meanwhile, perhaps you should find a way to secretly support your agents, without attracting attention but ensuring their safety."

Henderson nodded. "Thank you, Jim. I know I asked for a lot, especially so late."

Hartley stood up, ready to leave. "Don't mention it, Robert. How long have we known each other? Twenty years? What's the point of our friendship if I can't support you in a time like this?"

The two shook hands and said goodbye, agreeing to contact each other again the next day.

The following morning, Director Henderson anxiously awaited news from Senator Hartley. He had secretly instructed several trusted subordinates to begin gathering more information about Black Hawk International while avoiding drawing too much attention. He had also attempted to contact Lynn Hall through secure channels, but so far without success.

Just as he was considering his next move, his private phone rang. It was Hartley.

"Jim, any news?" Henderson asked eagerly.

A few seconds of silence followed on the other end of the phone, then Hartley's weary voice came through, "The situation isn't good, Robert. I tried speaking to a few committee members, but the response wasn't as enthusiastic as I'd hoped."

Henderson felt a pang of disappointment. "They don't believe the evidence?"

“Not entirely,” Hartley said in a low voice, “some people seemed...uncomfortable. They became unusually defensive or evasive when I mentioned Black Hawk International. One colleague even suggested I should ‘choose my battles carefully,’ saying it might be ‘something far beyond my comprehension.’”

Henderson's heart sank. "It sounds like Black Hawk's influence has indeed extended into Congress."

“Not only that,” Hartley continued, his voice almost a whisper, “Robert, I think I was being followed. After leaving the office, I noticed a black SUV keeping a distance from me. When I tried to shake it off, another car took over the pursuit. This isn’t ordinary surveillance, Robert, this is professional.” (End of Chapter)